WILL GIVE A STRONG REPLY, FORCES GIVEN FULL FREEDOM: PM

PM Narendra Modi today (Feb 15) said that India will give a strong and fitting reply to the attack on CRPF troopers at Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir and that forces have been given full freedom as India withdrew the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status granted to Pakistan after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (SSC) chaired by Prime Minister Modi.

“They have made a big mistake and will have to pay a very heavy price. I assure everyone that we will bring the forces behind the attack to justice” PM Modi said in New Delhi.

“I thank all nations who have supported us and condemned this incident in the strongest of terms. A strong reply will be given to this attack. Forces have been given full freedom,” he added.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the CCS meeting that the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status granted to Pakistan has been withdrawn and that all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure complete isolation of Pakistan from the international community will be initiated.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also flew to Srinagar to take stock of the situation arising out of the attacks. Besides meeting senior police and Army officers, he even carried a coffin after mortal remains of the martyred CRPF troopers were brought to Srinagar.

The Congress party, meanwhile, stated that violence against security forces “is absolutely disgusting” and that the country is united and the entire opposition will stand together with the jawans and the Government.

“This is a terrible tragedy. This type of violence done against our security forces is absolutely disgusting. The aim of terrorism is to divide this country and we are not going to be divided. The entire Opposition will stand together with our jawans and our Government,” Congress president Rahul Gandhi said.